A Schumann plate is a photographic plate coated with a specialised emulsion containing very little gelatin, allowing the silver halide grains to protrude above the surface of the coating. This unique design improves sensitivity to ultraviolet light, making the plate suitable for specialised photographic applications beyond the visible spectrum.
Schumann plates were historically used in ultraviolet photography and scientific imaging, where capturing wavelengths invisible to the human eye was essential. Their enhanced ultraviolet sensitivity made them valuable in research, spectroscopy, and experimental photography, particularly before the development of more modern UV-sensitive materials.